WHAT
The third annual Volvo for life Awards is the largest-ever national search for and celebration of everyday heroes, with Volvo Cars of North America providing $1 million in awards and contributions.
Launched in June 2004, the program called for individuals nationwide to nominate a hometown hero they know at www.volvoforlifeawards.com. Volvo received 4,272 nominations representing all 50 states. The initiative culminates with the March 24, 2005, Volvo for life Awards Ceremony, held in New York at Times Square Studios, Ltd.
WHY
The Volvo for life Awards program was developed by Volvo Cars of North America to honor and celebrate ordinary people doing extraordinary things for their communities in the areas of safety, quality of life and the environment. This year’s initiative also saw the debut of a new category, the Alexandra Scott Butterfly Award, celebrating the memory of Alex Scott, one of the first Volvo for life Awards winners, and honoring young heroes like Alex. Despite suffering a rare form of cancer, Alex turned lemons into lemonade by raising more than $1 million for pediatric cancer research through lemonade stands.
HEROES
Nominations for the 2005 Volvo for life Awards were accepted through Jan. 10, 2005. In February, Volvo selected 100 semi-finalists, who each received a Certificate of Merit honoring their accomplishments. From those 100, Volvo selected the top three finalists in three categories: safety, quality of life and environment. Of the child heroes in the top 100, Alex Scott’s parents Jay and Elizabeth Scott selected the Butterfly Award winner.
A distinguished panel of judges reviewed the finalists’ nominations and selected a winner in each of the three categories. The three winners are being honored at the Volvo for life Awards Ceremony and will each receive a $50,000 donation to her favorite charity. The overall winner, to be revealed at the ceremony, will receive a Volvo car for the rest of her life. The remaining six finalists and the Butterfly Award winner each will receive a $25,000 charitable donation.
JUDGES
Hank Aaron, Bill Bradley, Caroline Kennedy, Maya Lin, Paul Newman, Dr. Sally Ride, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Earnestine Russell-Drumgold (2004 Volvo for life Awards grand winner).
FINALISTS
The program’s top three finalists in the categories of safety, quality of life and environment are:
Safety:
Quality of Life:
Environment:
WINNERS
From the category finalists, the distinguished panel of judges selected the Volvo for life Awards’ three category winners:
BUTTERFLY
The Alexandra Scott Butterfly Award winner is:
CEREMONY
The third annual Volvo for life Awards Ceremony is being held March 24, 2005, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET, at Times Square Studios, Ltd., in New York City.
Contact:
Eric Davis,
Haberman & Associates,
612-338-3900,
eric@modernstorytellers.com.
Sören Johansson,
Volvo Cars of North America,
949-341-6719,
sjohan44@volvocars.com.
Media:
For photos and more information on the Volvo for life Awards: